For the 18th year, youth from area United Methodist churches joined hundreds of thousands of students around the nation and the world last weekend to fast for 30 hours and collect canned goods and donations for Macon County CareNet and donations for World Vision.

In addition, youth led and attended worship services, slept in cardboard “houses,” learned more about world hunger issues, and volunteered at CareNet and Habitat for Humanity.

As of Monday, the result of their efforts included 7,104 cans collected for CareNet; $1,704 donated to CareNet; $1,750 donated to World Vision; 408 backpacks filled with food for distribution to local school children; six blankets made for the United Methodist Home for Children; and 2,440 nails sorted for Habitat.

World Vision is a Christian humanitarian organization dedicated to working with children, families, and their communities worldwide to reach their full potential by tackling the causes of poverty and injustice.

It all started when evangelist Bob Pierce came face to face with children orphaned by war in Korea — and decided he had to do something. For more than six decades, World Vision has been helping feed and care for children around the world. A percentage of funds raised through the Famine support World Vision’s efforts to help the hungry and impoverished in the U.S.